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Avalanche Related Articles

  • Avalanche Danger Checklist (for those folks who like reminders of some of the components that lead to increased avalanche danger)

  • Avalanche Myths Debunked (discussion of selected "avalanche myths" or popular misconceptions about avalanches and avalanche related dangers)

  • Wet Snow in the Northwest (description of the colar and energy balance effects that can turn that spring outing into a wet, gooey and dangerous mess)

Mountain Weather Related Articles

  • Field Forecasting Methodology (short summary of important parts of storm evolution, useful for checking whether changing conditions portend more dangerous weather)

  • El Niño and its Effects on NW Winters  (While some cry out in pain, El Nino does not necessarily result in dire straits for NW winters. And besides, California needs snow too! Check out the most common effects of El Nino on the NW snowpack with figures showing variation in snowdepths by winter season)

  • ENSO and Avalanche Fatalities: Is there a Correlation? (The occurrence of an El Nino-Southern Oscillation event often produces unusual snowpack evolution throughout the western US. If not aware of the associated snowpack development, such evolution can and does result in unpleasant surprises and greater than normal avalanche accidents. This ISSW 2008 paper studies the possible correlation between ENSO, the strength of the event, and avalanche fatalities in North America.)

  • La Niña and its Effects on NW Winters  (Although La Nina can and does produce above average snow and generally cooler than normal temperatures for NW snowpacks, this correlation may be dependent on the strength of the event. This 2007 paper discussing the impacts of La Nina on NW snowfall, with graphs of average snowdepths depending on La Nina strength)

NWAC Annual Reports

(explore past winters through these summaries of NWAC operation and the evolution of past snowpack, weather and avalanche condtions)


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